PNC takes WDCs, but lose council seats in election runoff

The local council elections and women’s development committee runoffs held on Saturday saw the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) sweep seats in WDCs, but concede council seats to the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and an independent.

The local council and WDC elections took place on April 4. But votes tied for five of the seats, requiring a runoff.

As such, a second round of voting was conducted on Saturday for a seat in the B. Dhonfanu Council and the seat in the Fuvahmulah City Council for the Dhadimagu district, both of which were designated for women.

Voting also took place to elect the president of the HA. Kelaa WDC, and one member each to the HDh. Neykurendhoo WDC and the L. Maavah WDC.

Preliminary results show incumbent councilwoman from Fuvahmulah, Aishath Abdul Gadhir, a politician from the PNC, failed to defend her seat. Aishath received 562 votes, while Sheeza Ibrahim, an independent who ran with the backing of the People’s National Front (PNF), won the seat with 595 votes.

With this result, the ruling party will not have any of its representatives on the Fuvahmulah City Council next term.

Meanwhile in Dhonfanu, incumbent councilwoman Aishath Muna, a politician from PNC, lost her seat by a sizable margin to MDP. Muna received 166 votes, while MDP’s Aminath Rafah won 203.

WDC results:

• President of Kelaa WDC: PNC’s Hawwa Fazna won with 578 votes, with MDP’s Mahudhiyya Adam trailing behind with 528 votes.
• Neykurendhoo WDC seat: PNC’s Fathimath Riuza won with 362 votes, while independent Fathimath Nishadha received 232 votes.
• Maavah WDC: PNC’s Fathimath Shafia won with 563 votes, while MDP’s Maryam Maaisha received 545 votes.